Wednesday, December 04, 2013

EDUCATION - In the U.S. vs Rest of the Globe

"How does American education measure up to schools around the globe?" PBS Newshour 12/3/2013

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The PISA test is given to students in more than 60 countries as a way to compare scores in reading, math and science across the globe.  As in past years, 2012 results show the U.S. near the middle.  For insight on the results, Jeffrey Brown talks to Andreas Schleicher of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development.

JEFFREY BROWN (Newshour):  It's considered by many the world's most important exam.  The Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA test, has been given to 15-year-olds in 65 countries and educational systems every three years since 2000, a way to test and compare performances in reading, math, and science, with an emphasis on how facts and figures can be not just learned, but used.

Results from 2012 were released today, and, once again, the U.S. hovered near the middle of the pack, lagging in some areas, even as other countries advanced.  Math remains the biggest challenge; 29 other systems had higher average scores than American high schoolers.

The U.S. fared better in reading, where it ranked 20th, and in science, ranking 23rd.  The best results were in East Asia, where students from Shanghai, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, among others, placed near the top.

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